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COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group
Trail riders beware of Wolverines. Or, be aware that they actually still exist, more aggressive than ever, too. After a steady drop in Yamaha's Wolverine sales over the last several years, one may have forgot the machine existed or thought it was nearing extinction. But, after a reinvigorated effort, watch out for a boom in Wolverine numbers.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The Big 10's Wolverines based in Ann Arbor. Mich., might still be the best known, but they could end up sharing the moniker spotlight with Yamaha's quad. We got a chance to try out the revamped ATV at Chadwick OHV near Branson, Mo., home of hundreds of entertainment shows and billboards--and a lot of slow-moving senior bus tours! Chadwick was a perfect testing grounds for the new Wolverine 450, as we clawed through rocks, tight trails, trees, up and down hills, and mud.
A family of Wolverines awaited our eye-rubbing, early-morning arrival, set to prove their worth as a staple in Yamaha's lineup. The new quad certainly possesses a tough look, but could it back up that feistiness with a true trail bite?
Critter Crossing
Yamaha quickly caught us up to speed on the improvements, and we were off and riding. The Wolverine 450 isn't a true 450cc--like the 2006 YFZ is--it displaces an actual 421cc. If that number sounds familiar, it should, because that's the exact engine the Yamaha Kodiak 450 churns. The Wolverine shares the peppy Kodiak engine. The new Wolverine is exactly 73cc larger than the old version.
And the displacement shows....
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